Guru Nanak And His Trip To Mecca – A Powerful Story
You will shortly read one of my favourite stories about Guru Nanak and it’s one I first heard from Dr John DeMartini’s book ‘The Breakthrough Experience‘.
While I was researching the origins of this story, I saw all sorts of arguments between Sikhs and Muslims regarding the validity of the story, whether Guru Nanak would ever have been allowed into Mecca etc.
It’s a real shame as the meaning of the story is what’s most important. To me, it doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not. What matters to me, is that the message of the story is one of the most important messages that could ever be conveyed.
Regardless, here is the story for you to enjoy!
Guru Nanak – and his trip to Mecca
The founder of the Sikh religion was a great teacher named Guru Nanak. This wise being dedicated his life to studying the worlds religions. In his spiritual quest, he went to Israel and studied Judaism and Christianity, he journeyed to Mecca to study Mohammed’s teachings, and he went to the Kaaba, a cubical building in the center of Mecca’s big square.
On the eastern side of the Kaaba is a sacred stone, a meteorite set into the wall. Guru Nanak walked into the square and lay down on his back in meditation with his feet toward the sacred stone.The Muslims around him were deeply offended because the stone is a symbol of Allah, and the feet are considered unclean. They cried out in their language, ‘Blasphemy! Blasphemy! How dare you put your feet to the sacred stone?
They pushed his feet away but he just spun around and they were magically brought back to the stone. They kicked him, they dragged him out, they rolled him over and around and dragged him away, but nothing they did seemed to make the slightest difference. He kept his feet pointing to the stone.
Everyone was upset and screaming at him, and he finally asked them, “Brothers, why are you so upset?”
“Because the sacred stone represents God and you don’t put your feet in the direction of God. That is bad!”
He said, “If you can tell me, where God is NOT, I will gladly put my feet there.”
A great story- thanks for sharing. Best wishes from a Muslim!!
Hey Sarah, so glad you enjoyed! 🙂
guru nanak NEVER WENT TO MECCA TO STUDY MOHAMMEDS TEACHINGS WHY DO YOU LOT DO THAT. HE ALREADY NEW WHAT WAS IN THE KORAN AND ABOUT MOHAMMED. THEY SAW MIRICALS BY HIM . HE STAYED THERE 4 YRS. HE MADE FOLLOWERS WHOM SEEN HIS GODLINESS IIN HIM. WALK UP. HE HAS NOT PUT ANYTHING MOHAMMED DONE OR TOUGHT IN YOUR HOLLY LIVE BOOK. WALK UP
Do you agree with the meaning and moral behind this story, true or not, is the moral important for all to understand?
~Amit
A simple and powerful story that has the power to end petty conflicts. All religions preach that God is omnipresent/omniscient. If that is the case, he/she/it pervades the entire universe including every inch and corner of the planet earth and subsequently every molecule and atom that make up every living thing…including us. Damn, that means we’re all connected!! (I can already see centuries of labels and conditioned beliefs flying out of the window!).
If only it was that simple hey Milan? :-))
You’re right though, just that simple message is enough to breakdown so many barriers, yet it’s a question of who chooses to pay attention.
I completely disagree with the story which is telling muslim believe that a stone is consider as Almighty GOD. This is not the truth at all. The Almighty GOD can not be stone as per muslim believe. HE is the creator of everything. And the stone is not a single stone as there are more stones covered around with silver frame (please visit the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Stone for better information).
Zack – You missed the entire point of the article. It’s not about whether Muslims believe the stone is a representation of God or not, the whole point of the article is about God be everywhere and in all ways.
“SHOW ME WHERE GOD IS NOT…”
Regardless of which faith you come from, Guru Nanak was simply trying to teach that There is nowhere, where God is not.
PS for the record, I am not a Sikh, nor a Hindu, Nor A Jew, Nor a Buddhist, Nor A Muslim, but I am all of the above.
I do get the point obviously, and God is omnipresent in Islam of course.
God is not the stone nor the stone is a symbol whatsoever of God.
Islam is a religion giving a tremendous importance to respect.. something hardly understandable for many I guess, and this man way to “teach” what is a given fact in Islam was disrespectful.
ie in order to do a little good, he did a big bad.. if you see what I mean.
I understand many people here want to bring positive thinking, but please try to be more informed and give at least a balance between the goal and the mean.
Regards 😉
So you didn’t put my comment.. that just proves you only want your version of facts or ideas.. I feel sorry for the people tricked by you…
Hey Ammar – I’m sorry for my slow reply – I’ve been away. I have no problem with spirited debate. One thing I won’t get into to is about which religion is the right path etc – those debates have been going on for centuries and will continue to do so. I don’t believe in God – I KNOW GOD.
I have no interest in religion – only my personal relationship with the supreme.
If one person says Islam is the true path, a billion hindu’s will disagree with them.
If one person says Hinduism is the truth path, 2 billion Christians will disagree with them.
I one person says sikhism is the true path – 100 million Jews will disagree with them.
When you said he did a small good but a lot of bad – you’ve missed the entire point of the story.
A supreme being – responsible for creating this giant universe and beyond – is not concerned with being disrespected, offended, what name that being is given. There are billions of life forms all across the universe.
Guru Nanak did not disrespect Muslims or Islam – he was reminding them of what is true about for all faiths – God is omnipotent – remember that. We are all the children on 1 supreme being – a being that endowed us and empowered us with Free will so that we can choose are own paths.
All the best
~Amit
Hello Amit,
Thank you for putting my comment and thank you for being honest with me about your opinion.
I totally agree with you that each religion followers are going to say they found / believed in the right religion. But that wasn’t what I was referring to.
And as I mentioned, Islam understands clearly that God is omnipresent omnipotent, etc…
My point wasn’t about respecting God or not, but respecting the feelings of Muslims. I would love to see people understand that important fact, that Muslims have feelings.
And a basis of respect is that it is the side that might or might not be respected who defines that something was disrespectful for him, not the other way around.
I am not willing to make people change their minds whatsoever, but just clarifying something important (that is respect) for the peacefully minded people in order for them to better know how to deal with Muslims.
All the best too
Ammar
I admire and respect your viewpoint on the subject.
~Amit
Hi.. There is a slight error in the story.. His feet didnt return to where the stone was.. the kaabah shifted to where his leg was kept.. when they threw his leg away.. they saw the kaabah moved to where his leg was.. It could be an illusion probably bt this fact was written by muslim scholars from mecca..
Hey Harkiret,
Thanks for your comments – and as for the point you mentioned, I’ve actually read about 20 different versions of the story – so who knows what the exact truth is – but what is most important is the message of the story. No one can possibly validate the story perfectly all we can do is pay attention to the wonderful message trying to be shared and then live according to that doctrine.
All the best,
~Amit
mr amit who master of guru nanak
plz what time duration birth of guru nanak ji
first to you will say hazrat farid ganj rajiallah tala master of guru nanak. i think that time will be 550 hijiri today 1438 hijiri . than how can posible pzl tell me.
you will read guruwani which write by guru nanak ji under grace of his spritul teacher hazrat baba farid .
baba farid is muslim than after all guru nanak ji also accepet islam became muslim. guru nanak ji was gone to macca performing hajj.
my bhrother
Thanks for your comment Waseem although I have to be honest I have no idea what you mean and it has no bearing on me whether it is true or not – I only care what the message is ‘Show me where god is not’ The message of what the story is saying is the only important factor to me.
~Amit
I just read an article from apparently a Sikh scholar who discredits the story of Baba Guru Nanak ever going to Mecca. He made a strong point that Muslims would have mentioned in their Books about it and even built a shrine. His claim was strengthened by another historical fact of a meeting between Baba Guru Nanak and Harun Rashid. That meeting was impossible due to time difference of 100s of years.
Regardless, we still respect Baba Guru Nanak and believe the Sikhs and Muslim can live in peace and harmony in Great Punjab Republic
Hey there…
Anyone who attempts show whether this story true or not is missing the point. It’s the message behind the story that matters.
It may not be accurate – but whatever the origins of this story, what a powerful message.
~Amit
Regardless of whether your story is true or not. It does contain inconsistencies, the story implies that Muslims believe the stone is a symbol of God and that it represents God and direction of God, clearly that is untrue, Muslims don’t believe that the stone is a symbol of God, represents or is God.
Best Regards
I agree, I’m sure it’s loaded with inaccuracies. But no one can deny the meaning or the lesson behind the story.
Show me where God is not.
~Amit